On Monday, residents of Old Fadama staged a demonstration to protest the decision by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to demolish their structures.
Police and some media personnel had to run for their lives as residents pelted them with stones and chased them with clubs in the process.
In the face of this whole development, what intrigued me most was the decision by Police personnel to run during the violent attack, leaving media personnel and other residents who were not involved in the demonstration to their fate.
I was amazed that some residents could virtually take the law into their own hands and actually chase Police officers out with metals and rocks.
The Oxford dictionary defines a Police Officer as one who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and maintenance of public order.
I am therefore compelled to question the essence of a Police officer who shirks his responsibility and is know where to be found the very moment his or her services are needed.
One of the Police officers who was running along with my other colleague during the attack said the situation was under control, but my question is how was the situation under control when you, the Police officer who was suppose to ensure calm escaped?
They were just unprepared
The Ghana Police Service knows very well that these residents are violent and capable of doing anything so I couldn’t fathom why it sent just a handful of officers to restore calm in the area.
I believe as usual these Police Officers underrated the situation and thought they could perform ‘signs and wonders’ so arrived at the scene unprepared.
After allowing these residents to have their way and cause the damage and havoc they wanted to, the Police Service was only left with its reactive measure of arresting the perpetrators and resorting to its usual talk: “We will ensure that the perpetrators face the law.”
Well said; you will ensure that they face the law, but what did you do to stop the rioting in the first place when you had the opportunity to do so? What did you do to protect the citizenry in the face of the attack?
This is not the first time Police Officers have been chased away.A similar incident happened in the Ashanti Region when artisans at the Suame Magazine chased out some Police officers.
Count the cost
Police Officers and other persons working with law enforcement agencies fail to count the cost before choosing their profession.
They fail to consider the fact that they might lose their lives in their bid to ensure that every citizen abides by the law.
A Police officer is not an arm chair executive too interested in his/her welfare.He/she has the welfare of the citizenry at heart.
The next time a Police officer is faced with a similar situation he or she should muster courage and face the situation head on rather than being a coward.
Audio report about what transpired at Old Fadama below
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah